Method for printing on labels

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus are described for forming, by a scribing action, bar codes of relatively long length on record members such as tickets, tags, labels and the like. The printing of the long length bar codes is accomplished without the need for increasing the size of the printer or for utilizing the relatively high forces required for normal pressure printing operations. A plurality of individually indexible discs are coaxially mounted so as to collectively define a printing drum, each disc being provided with raised bar code fonts or projections that are adapted to scribe print different bar code characters. The printing drum is positioned for cooperation with a pressure backing element and a sheet material strip, the sheet material strip which includes a carrier tape for the record members and a suitable inking ribbon being positioned between said drum and backing element. With the discs rotatably indexed to and locked in selected scribing positions the sheet material strip is moved relative to the printing drum so that the selected raised bar code fonts on the drum cause the scribing on a record member of a plurality of code bars that define a desired code pattern or character. Provision is also made for roll printing alpha-numeric characters adjacent and corresponding to each scribed bar code character.

Hubbard et a1.

Dec. 9, 1975 [54] METHOD FOR PRINTING 0N LABELS [75] inventors: David W.Hubbard; Willliam W.

Coville, both of Stamford, Conn.

[73] Assignee: Pitney Bowes, inc, Stamford, Conn.

[22] Filed: Apr. 26, 1974 [21] Appl No.: 464,500

Related US. Appiication Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.373,381, June 25,

1973, abandoned.

[52] U.S. C1. 101/426; 101/1; 101/92; 101/2i9;10i/288;197/1R [51] lint.C1. EML 47/46 [58] Field of Search 101/93 C, 93 R, 110, 99,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,428,560 10/1947 Faust101/110 2,656,240 10/1953 Hell 197/! R 2,659,652 11/1952 Thompson 346/502,976,801 3/1961 Dirks 197/1 R 3,109,058 10/1963 Luhn 197/1 R 3,223,03312/1965 Sundbiad 101/110 X 3,231,446 1/1966 Satas H 156/384 3,317,0175/1967 Young..... 19711 R 3,322,252 5/1967 West 197/1 R 3,357,53312/1967 Artzt 197/1 R 3,419,886 12/1968 Ortlieb 197/1 R X 3,834,3019/1974 Croquelois et a1 101/] Primary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr AssistantExaminer---Pau1 J. Hirsch Attorney, Agent, or Firm-William D. Soltow,Jr.; Albert W. Scribner; Peter Vrahotes [57] ABSTRACT Method andapparatus are described for forming, by a scribing action, bar codes ofrelatively long length on record members such as tickets, tags, labelsand the like. The printing of the long length bar codes is accomplishedwithout the need for increasing the size of the printer or for utilizingthe relatively high forces required for normal pressure printingoperations. A plurality of individually indexible discs are coaxiallymounted so as to collectively define a printing drum, each disc beingprovided with raised bar code fonts or projections that are adapted toscribe print different bar code characters. The printing drum ispositioned for cooperation with a pressure backing element and a sheetmaterial strip, the sheet material strip which inchides a carrier tapefor the record members and a suitable inking ribbon being positionedbetween said drum and backing element. With the discs rotatably indexedto and locked in selected scribing positions the sheet material strip ismoved relative to the printing drum so that the selected raised bar codefonts on the drum cause the scribing on a record member of a pluralityof code bars that define a desired code pattern or character. Provisionis also made for roll printing alpha-numeric characters adjacent andcorresponding to each scribed bar code character.

2 Ciaims, 3 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 3,924,532

METHOD FOR PRINTING ON LABELS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONThis application is a continuation-in-part of pending application Ser.No. 373,381 filed June 25, 1973, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a novel method andapparatus for preparing record members such as tickets, tags, andlabels. More specifically the invention relates to a method andapparatus for conveniently forming relatively long code bars on recordmembers such as labels etc. that are to be used in stores and the liketo identify merchandise.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The automatic identification of merchandiseat checkout counters has been extensively developed in recent years.Equipment to accomplish this is known as a point of sale system. In atypical system a bar code pattern or character is applied to a recordmember such as a ticket, tag or label which is then placed on orretained with a given piece of merchandise so as to enable an operatorat a checkout counter to automatically scan the record member andthereby identify the product being sold, the sale price thereof, and anyother information recorded on said record member. A bar code characteris defined by a code combination of bars and spaces therebetween thatcollectively represent a particular number, letter or symbol.

In order that bar code characters may be read quickly and reliably, itis necessary that the code bars thereof have sufficient length. Wherethe bar codes are read manually, as with a hand held optical pen, thelength of the code bars need not be too great, in this case a length asshort as /16 of an inch may be satisfactory. However where the bar codesare to be read automatically the code bars may require a length up toapproximately 1 inch or so. To print code bars in excess of 5/16 inch inlength would normally require relatively large, heavy and expensiveprinters if conventional printing methods and apparatus were used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, amethod and apparatus for forming code bars of relatively long length ona record member are provided which are particularly convenient,practical and inexpensive. The apparatus involved does not require heavystructural features and may be conveniently adapted for printing barcodes on merchandise labels and the like.

As described with reference to one embodiment of the invention aplurality of bar codes fonts are formed on the surfaces of a pluralityof discs. The discs are positioned coaxially adjacent to one another soas to effectively define a printing drum and may be rotated individuallyand collectively about a common axis. The peripheral surfaces of thediscs are provided with raised bar code fonts, or scribing elements,each disc being rotatably indexible to and locked in a selected positionso as to be capable of cooperating with an ink ribbon so as to scribeform various desired bar code patterns on record members. This scribingtechnique is very efficient as compared with conventional bar codeprinters in that the plurality of scribing discs require only relativelysmall forces to progressively form a bar code pattern on a recordmember.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a convenient andpractical method and apparatus for forming bar code patterns orcharacters on merchandise labels or similar record members which maythen be automatically read using suitable scanning devices.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a relativelyinexpensive convenient and practical method and apparatus for printingbar code patterns using a scribing technique.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a method andapparatus for efficiently printing on a record member code bars havingrelatively long lengths.

These and other objects and advantages of the instant method andapparatus for forming bar code patterns may be understood from thefollowing detailed description of an embodiment described in conjunctionwith the instant drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic viewillustrating the instant apparatus and method for forming a bar codepattern on a record member;

FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged view ofa portion ofa label with a bar codepattern and an alpha-numeric charac ter formed thereon in accordancewith the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view illustrating the shape of eachscribing element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT With reference to FIG. 1 theinstant bar code printing apparatus 10 includes a printing drum 11comprising three discs 12a, 12b and 120. Only three discs are shown,however it is to be understood that any number of such discs may beused; for example ten discs might be employed to form a ten characterbar code pattern, each disc determining one such character at any giventime. The peripheral surface 14 of each disc is provided with aplurality of circumferentially spaced bar code fonts 16, each font beingdefined by a group of small generally wedgeshaped scribing elements orprojections 17. The widths w, FIG. 1, of projections 17, and the lateralspacings s therebetween for any one font or group of projections aredetermined in accordance with the bar code character that is to beprinted by said group of scribing elements. The circumferential length lof each scribing element 1.7 is selected so as to provide sufficientstructural rigidity to enable the element to exert the necessaryscribing forces against a record member, however the radial outer tip 20of each scribing element has a very short effective length as measuredcircumferentially on the associated disc. The print contact area of eachprojection tip 20 is thus much smaller than the area of the code bar tobe printed by each such tip 20. The discs 12, 12b and are locatedcoaxially adjacent to one another and when rotatably indexed and lockedin selected printing positions have the scribing elements 17 in lateralalignment as is illustrated at 21 of FIG. 1. A pressure element isprovided which may be defined by any suitable means affording a rigidbacking surface such as a cylindrical element 22. Element 22 may beformed from a single cylinder or a plurality of adjacent cylinders thatare rotatably supported on a suitable shaft 23.

A sheet material strip 24 is adapted to be passed between the printingdrum 11 and the pressure element 22. The strip 24 includes a backing orcarrier tape 26 on which record members, such as labels 28, arereleasably secured by a suitable adhesive as is well understood in theart. The strip 24 also includes an ink ribbon 30 which is disposed abovethe labels 28 and which may be defined by a thin mylar tape or ribboncarrying a layer of pressure transferrable ink on the lower surface 32thereof. The ink ribbon 30 being pressure sensitive is thus capable ofmarking on labels 28 upon relative scribing movement between the sheetmaterial strip 24 and the selected bar code fonts 16.

The scribing discs are individually rotatably mounted on the shaft 34 toenable an operator to select the desired bar code fonts 16 for printingon a label 28. The periphery of each disc 12a, 12b and 12c is marked soas to facilitate the proper positioning of each disc; here for examplean eye-readable digit at location A on the upper portion of the surface14 of disc 12a designates the bar code character font 16 that is thenlocated in print position on the diametrically opposite lower portion ofthe disc 12a. Through this expedient one may readily determine when anydesired bar code font has been positioned for scribing engagement withthe strip 24. Any suitable locking mechanism 36 may be employed toreleasably lock each disc in a selected printing position. This lockingmeans 36 may for example include a spring loaded finger 38 for eachdisc; each such finger having a lower V-shaped end which is adapted tocooperate with corresponding V-shaped notches 40 formed in the surface14 of the associated disc. Each disc is provided with a plurality ofsuch notches 40 which are respectively associated with the various barcode fonts on the disc. The notch 40 and fingers 38 are arranged so thatwhen a disc is rotated to a selected indexed position and locked thereinthat bar code font character that is represented by the eye readabledigit at the said upper location of said disc, corresponding to locationA, is in a position to scribe print on a label 28..

As shown in FIG. 1 a plurality of raised alphanumeric character types 42are mounter in circumferential spaced relation on the periphery 14 ofeach disc, each type 42 being located adjacent an associated bar codefont 16. Any given type 42 is adapted to print a visually readablealpha-numeric character that identifies the bar code character that isscribe printed by the bar code font 16 next adjacent to that type 42. Aswill be apparent the effective printing surfaces of the raised types 42and the tips 20 of bar code fonts scribing elements 17 havesubstantially the same radius with respect to the axis of drum ill. Thetypes 42 are adapted to roll print alpha-numeric characters on labels 28as will be further discussed below.

Pressure element 22 and shaft 23 are supported by any suitable means notshown for movement towards and away from an operative backing orprinting support position with respect to the drum 11. as is indicatedby arrows and 52 respectively.

ln the operation of the instant apparatus the pressure element 22 isinitially moved away or disengaged from the printing drum it, asindicated by arrow 52, so that discs 12a, 12b and 12c may be unlocked,rotatably indexed to their respective desired print positions, and thenrelocked so as to be thereafter capable of scribe printing the desiredbar code characters on a label 28. The sheet material strip 24 is thenplaced between the printing drum l1 and the pressure element 22 withthat portion of the label which is to be printed on and which isadjacent the leading edge 56 thereof in registration with and beneaththe line of selected and operatively positioned bar code fonts 16. Thepressure element 22 is then moved towards and held in a operativeposition with respect to the printing drum 11, as indicated by arrow 50,so as to firmly hold the sheet material strip 24 against the tips 20 ofthe scribing elements 17 defining the selected line of bar code fonts16. The strip 24 is then pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow57 and this movement produces a scribing action of the said tips 20 ofsaid selected bar code fonts 16 with respect to strip 24 so as totransfer ink from ribbon 30 onto the said label 28 and thereby formthereon the various elongated code bars of the desired bar codecharacter such as that illustrated at 44. The movement of the strip 24may be assisted by rotably driving the backing element 22 by anysuitable means. The duration or extent of this movement of thesheetmaterial strip 24 is selected so as to be commensurate with thedesired length h, FIG. 2, for the printed code bars.

When the above described bar code scribe printing action is completed,the various locking mechanisms 36 are moved to inoperative positions sothat all the discs are unlocked and free to rotate together on shaft 34.The printing drum 11 as a whole is then allowed to rotate, as indicatedby arrow 58, in response to and under the control of the continuedmovement of the strip 24 to thereby provide a roll printing action bythose associated alpha-numeric printing types 42 that are next adjacentto and following the bar code fonts 16 that have just completed theirscribe printing action. These types 42 are physically located closeenough to their respectively associated type fonts 16 so that only aslight rotational movement of the drum 1 1, produced by the saidcontinuing movement of strip 24 and acting on the just previouslyoperative fonts 16, is required to initially bring the said associatedtypes 42 into roll printing contact with strip 24. Thereafter thecontinued movement of strip 24 will complete a roll printing of thealpha-numeric characters, such as that illustrated at 59,. on the label;these characters being located in a position on the label that isclosely adjacent to the respectively associated bar code characters suchas 44 just previously scribe printed thereon. The backing member 22and/or the drum 11 may be rotatably driven during the roll printing ofthe alpha-numeric characters. Upon completion of the roll printingaction both the bar code characters such as 44 and the associatedalpha-numeric characters will then have been printed on a label 28, andthe strip 24 during this printing period will have been moved through alongitudinal distance approximately equal to the width W, FIG. 2, of thelabel 28. The pressure element 22 is then moved away from drum 11 asindicated by the arrow 52 so as to release the printing drum 11 fromprinting engagement with the strip 24 and thus permit discs 12a, 12b and12c to be rotatably indexed and locked in their next operative scribingpositions as required to print the desired bar code and alpha-numericcharacters on the next label 28. The strip 24 is advanced to being thenext label to print receiving position and the apparatus may then beoperated as above described to perform another cycle of operation.

It will be observed that the relatively long code bars of characterssuch as 44 can be formed using the above described technique eventhrough the effective circumferential strip contact length p, FIG. 3, ofeach scribing element is much shorter than either the correspondingperipheral lengths of the alpha-numerictypes 42 or the length h, FIG. 2,of the bar code characters to be formed.

As will be apparent means producing an impact type printing action maybe utilized to'form the said alphanumeric characters such as 59 ratherthan a roll print type of action as above described.

Having thus described a method and apparatus in accordance with theinvention for forming a bar code pattern, the advantages and objects ofthe invention may be appreciated. A simple device and fast method forprinting bar codes on labels is provided suitable for use at diversepoint-of-sale locations.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of preparing a label or the like that is to be marked with amachine readable bar code character; comprising the steps of placing thelabel and an overlying ink ribbon between a pressure element and aprinting drum having a plurality of groups of bar code scribing elementsand a plurality of groups of alpha-numeric character types peripheriallyspaced relative to said scribing elements disposed thereon;

locating a selected group of said bar code scribing elements in scribeprinting positions;

moving the said selected group of scribing elements and said pressureelement toward one another and into opposed printing pressure relationwith re spect to said ink ribbon and label;

moving said ink ribbon and label between the said selected scribingelements and the pressure element while maintaining said printing drumstationary so as to thereby scribe machine readable code bars on saidlabel;

continuing said movement of said ink ribbon and label for a distancecorresponding to the length desired for the code bars of said codecharacter; and

rotating said printing drum in coordination with the movement of saidink ribbon and said label to print alpha-numeric characters on saidlabel adjacent said scribed bar codes.

2. A method for forming machine readable bar codes patterns on labels soas to enable automatic identification of the merchandise with which thelabels are to be respectively associated: comprising the steps ofproviding a sheet material strip that includes a tape carrying labelsthat underlie the ink disbursing side of a pressure responsive inkribbon;

positioning said strip between a substantially rigid pressure backingsurface and a printing drum having formed thereon a plurality of groupsof bar code scribing elements and a plurality of groups of alpha-numericcharacter type spaced relative to said bar codes;

bringing said backing surface and a selected group of said scribingelements into opposed pressure engagement with said strip;

moving the sheet material strip relative to said scribing elements whilemaintaining the printing drum stationary to enable said selected groupof scribing elements to scribing transfer ink from said ribbon onto oneof said labels and continuing this movement for a distance commensuratewith the desired length of the code bars of a desired bar code pattern;

moving said printing drum in coordination with the movement of saidsheet to print alpha-numeric characters thereon;

moving said backing surface and said printing memher out of said opposedengagement with said strip; and

repeating the last three mentioned steps with respect to each of aplurality of succeeding labels carried by said tape so that each of saidsucceeding labels is thereby provided with the desired machine readablebar code pattern thereon.

1. A method of preparing a label or the like that is to be marked with amachine readable bar code character; comprising the steps of placing thelabel and an overlying ink ribbon between a pressure element and aprinting drum having a plurality of groups of bar code scribing elementsand a plurality of groups of alphanumeric character types peripheriallyspaced relative to said scribing elements disposed thereon; locating aselected group of said bar code scribing elements in scribe printingpositions; moving the said selected group of scribing elements and saidpressure element toward one another and into opposed printing pressurerelation with respect to said ink ribbon and label; moving said inkribbon and label between the said selected scribing elements and thepressure element while maintaining said printing drum stationary so asto thereby scribe machine readable code bars on said label; continuingsaid movement of said ink ribbon and label for a distance correspondingto the length desired for the code bars of said code character; androtating said printing drum in coordination with the movement of saidink ribbon and said label to print alpha-numeric characters on saidlabel adjacent said scribed bar codes.
 2. A method for forming machinereadable bar codes patterns on labels so as to enable automaticidentification of the merchandise with which the labels are to berespectively associated: comprising the steps of providing a sheetmaterial strip that includes a tape carrying labels that underlie theink disbursing side of a pressure responsive ink ribbon; positioningsaid strip between a substantially rigid pressure backing surface and aprinting drum having formed thereon a plurality of groups of bar codescribing elements and a plurality of groups of alpha-numeric charactertype spaced relative to said bar codes; bringing said backing surfaceand a selected group of said scribing elements into opposed pressureengagement with said strip; moving the sheet material strip relative tosaid scribing elements while maintaining the printing drum stationary toenable said selected group of scribing elements to scribing transfer inkfrom said ribbon onto one of said labels and continuing this movementfor a distance commensurate with the desired length of the code bars ofa desired bar code pattern; moving said printing drum in coordinationwith the movement of said sheet to print alpha-numeric charactersthereon; moving said backing surface and said printing member out ofsaid opposed engagement with said strip; and repeating the last threementioned steps with respect to each of a plurality of succeeding labelscarried by said tape so that each of said succeeding labels is therebyprovided with the desired machine readable bar code pattern thereon.